El Nacimiento Named Official Tequila of Illinois Bicentennial

Before the Announcement

Attendees enjoy coctails at Moe's Cantina before the announcement of the official tequila of the Illinois Bicentennial.

A couple of hundred Chicago-area restaurant owners sampled El Nacimiento tequila Thursday evening at an event celebrating the brand's selection as the official tequila of the Illinois Bicentennial. The event, held at Moe's Cantina in Chicago's River North neighborhood, featured tequila cocktails and Mexican hors d'oeuvres.

"We salute the contributions of the Hispanic communities in Illinois," said Stuart Layne, executive director of the Illinois Bicentennial Commission. "We el Nacimiento tequila, we can celebrate all that those communities have given to Illinois."

Joe Fernandez and Hector Arellano of Borderz Imports explained that El Naciemento is

Sam Sanchez

Sam Sanchez, owner of Moe's Cantina, welcomed the crowd to his restaurant in Chicago.

double distilled and aged in white oak barrels sourced from the Jack Daniels distillery. In addition, the tequila contains no chemicals. Fernandez noted that the tequila should be consumed from a flute glass in order to maximize the drinking experience.

To honor the bicentennial, El Naciemento is making 2,000 bottles in the shape of the state of Illinois and filling them with a special 7-year-aged anejo. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will receive the first bottle of the extra anejo at a ceremony in May.